In continuing to ensure the safety of our students, families, and volunteers, LaAmistad Afterschool will remain in compliance with government directives and suspend programming until April 24th. Click below for CDC preparedness guidelines, and to help LaAmistad support its students and families during COVID-19 school closures.

Thank you,

LaAmistad

Thank you, partners.

Westminster Parent Liaison, Norma, distributing groceries to families

LaAmistad would like to take a moment to thank its incredible church partners. In recent weeks, the students and families that LaAmistad serves have faced an unprecedented set of challenges. Parent Liaisons sprung into action, performing needs assessments for resources like groceries and internet access. With schools closed, employment questions, and bills coming, many families were in need of additional support.

It is such a blessing to know that LaAmistad's community is one that binds tighter in times of need. From collecting gift card donations, to coordinating grocery pickups, to supporting online learning initiatives, our church partners have stepped up for our community in so many inspiring ways. Please, see below for more information on our church partners and their efforts.

LaAmistad Uses New Bus to Fight Food Insecurity in North Atlanta Cluster

In the face of uncertainty, LaAmistad's community of givers is working hard to ensure that its students and families are not disproportionately impacted. COVID-19 school closures have left many LaAmistad families without alternative meal sources for students while schools are locked down, and LaAmistad's limited staff is taking up the mantle to ensure that participating students receive the available support.

Many Afterschool families are facing a unique set of challenges. When it was announced that APS school lunches would be made available for pickup at 5 locations around Atlanta, LaAmistad discovered that many of the students and families it serves would not be able to get access, due to proximity and lack of transportation. Remembering its new bus, a blessing designed to increase engagement for students of all ages, LaAmistad took action. In the early days of the school shut down, LaAmistad delivered over 400 school lunches to locations more accessible to its participating families.

The Suzanne W. Schirber Scholarship: Deadline May 31st

A scholarship fund established in loving memory of Suzanne W. Schirber, a former and dedicated LaAmistad volunteer. The scholarship supports incoming college freshman and current college LaAmistad students in pursuit of higher education.

Are you or a loved one a former LaAmistad Afterschool student? You may qualify to receive funds for school through LaAmistad's Suzanne W. Schirber Scholarship!

All eligible students are encouraged to apply. If you need any assistance when completing the application, please contact scholarship@laamistadinc.org.﻿

Collecting Donations for Students and Families: Easing the Economic Impact of COVID-19

If there's one thing this situation has taught us all, it's flexibility. Schools, institutions, and entire governments are themselves making new policy determinations based on ever-changing circumstances. The goal is to ensure that the months lost to this unprecedented public health emergency do not adversely affect those with limited means to begin with.

Regardless of the speed at which new policy is adopted, naturally, there are going to be gaps in federal and state support for working families. What many policymakers do not realize is that even a day or two of lost wages or reduced income can have devastating consequences for families already struggling to make ends meet. LaAmistad feels that it is its duty as an organization to not only fill in these gaps, but to do everything in its power to help see its students and families through this uncertain time.

Much of this uncertainty, data showed, centers around food insecurity. While school lunches and supplementary groceries have been made available, polls conducted by our Parent Liaisons revealed that much of our community can not get by on these alone. That's why LaAmistad is collecting donations to be distributed directly to families on grocery store gift cards. This is the most impactful way we can help LaAmistad families. Click below to make a gift and help us continue to provide community support to those who need it.

For months LaAmistad has been encouraging the participation of the families it serves in the 2020 Census. In light of recent events, it is more critical than ever before that the Latino community be accurately represented in the data. Federal resource allocations, like the one designed to ease the economic impact of COVID-19, will be based on the collected data for the next ten years. As part of its partnership with the Latino Community Fund of Georgia, LaAmistad is doing its part to get the word out to Latino families throughout the state.

We must not forget that, even during this time of crisis, participation in the 2020 Census carries profound longterm implications for the students and families we serve. Click below for the latest information from The United States Census Bureau.

We regret to inform you that this year’s LaAmistad Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast has been cancelled, due to public safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. The safety of our volunteers, families, and staff must always come first.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to honoring all of our amazing volunteers next year.

LaAmistad's Annual Gala is one of our biggest nights of the year. It's a chance for us as an organization to recognize some of the true giants of Atlanta's Latino community, and to celebrate their tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of the students and families we serve.

The 2020 LaAmistad Annual Gala will be held on September 26th at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, and feature dinner, dancing, and a fabulous silent auction benefiting LaAmistad's award-winning education services. Click the button to purchase sponsorship and get your tickets!

LaAmistad is seeking volunteers who can offer elementary age homework help at our Afterschool program locations. Volunteers work alongside a staff teacher and parent liaison. No Spanish or education experience required. Tutoring for elementary school-aged students will range from 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM on Mondays through Thursdays. Available days and times vary bylocation.